1. Hannah Diggs Atkins was the member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives for the 97th district from 1968 to 1980, and the first African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
22 Facts About Hannah Atkins
1. 2.
Hannah Atkins was later appointed to the simultaneous positions of Secretary of State of Oklahoma and Secretary of Social Services, establishing her as the highest ranked female in Oklahoma state government until she retired in 1991.
3.
Hannah Atkins was the fifth of six children born to the family.
4.
Hannah Atkins was the first of her sisters to marry and the only one to have children.
5.
Hannah Atkins attended segregated public schools in Winston-Salem and graduated as valedictorian at age 15 from Atkins High School.
6.
Hannah Atkins studied at the School of Law at Oklahoma City University and earned a master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1989 when she was 66 years old.
7.
Two days before earning her Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 from St Augustine's College, Hannah married Charles N Atkins, a physician.
8.
Hannah Atkins became a reference librarian in 1949 at Fisk University in Nashville.
9.
Hannah Atkins became a branch librarian for the Oklahoma City Public Library until 1956.
10.
Hannah Atkins became an instructor of law, as well as an instructor of library science, at Oklahoma City University.
11.
Hannah Atkins served from 1968 until 1980 as the representative from the 97th District.
12.
Hannah Atkins fought for health care, child welfare, mental health reform, women's rights and civil rights.
13.
Hannah Atkins was Chairwoman of the Public and Mental Health Committee.
14.
Hannah Atkins served on the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, Commission on Education and Professional Standards Board, and Higher Education.
15.
Hannah Atkins was a member of the Third Committee which concentrated on social and economic issues.
16.
Hannah Atkins was the highest ranking woman in Oklahoma state government until her retirement in 1991.
17.
Hannah Atkins was inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 1982 and the Oklahoma Afro-American Hall of Fame 1983.
18.
Hannah Atkins was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2000.
19.
Hannah Atkins was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and The Links, Inc.
20.
In 1990, Oklahoma State University established an endowed chair in her honor, the Hannah Atkins Endowed Chair in Public Service.
21.
In 1998 Hannah Atkins received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, and, in 2000, an honorary doctorate from Oklahoma State University.
22.
Into the 21st century, Hannah Atkins continued to serve her community as a member of the Oklahoma Task Force for the Bombing Memorial.